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  • Better Lives with AIA Vitality: 5 ways AIA Vitality changed my life for the better

    AIA Vitality NZ - 5 min read

    29 January 2021

    • Health
    • Lifestyle

    Following a near-fatal accident in 2014, Nick Souris gained over 100kgs. But with the help of AIA Vitality, he’s gained motivation, a few new habits, and lost a lot of weight in the process.

    A few months ago, our Australian team met AIA Vitality member (and inspiring human being) Nick Souris, who’d just been through some of the most challenging years of his life.

    In 2014, Nick was involved in a car accident that nearly killed him, and in the years that followed he gained over 100 kilos. He wasn’t eating properly, wasn’t exercising, and couldn’t sleep. At his lowest point, he weighed 190 kilos and had stopped enjoying life.

    Four years later, Nick had a conversation with a colleague that would change everything. “I was at the pub with Steve, the safety director at the company I was working for,” Nick explains. “And he said to me, ‘Mate, you need to do something.’”

    Steve brought up the AIA Vitality app on his phone, showing Nick through the features, the reward system, and how to join. “He just kept saying ‘You need to get this AIA Vitality!’” Nick recalls. This was the turning point Nick needed to start making positive changes in his life.

    Two years later, Nick has dropped almost 70 kilos and – with the help of AIA Vitality – is loving life again. Here’s how AIA Vitality helped change Nick’s life for good.

    1. The AIA Vitality app is encouraging him to move more

    After Nick’s accident, he struggled to walk, let alone exercise. But when he had his ‘enough’s enough!’ epiphany and joined AIA Vitality, his journey to health started with a single step. And a Fitbit.

    “I started with walking, and trying to get 50 points [on the app],” Nick says. “It was challenging initially, but once I started getting the points, I started doing more and more.”

    While Nick’s journey started with 100-metre walks, he’s now averaging 15,000 steps a day, with a goal to hit 100,000 steps a week. He’s a also a member of two gyms – a boxing gym, which he visits in the morning, and a conventional gym, which is subsidised through his AIA Vitality membership.

    “The idea of getting those points each week really spurs you on.”

    2. Nick’s more conscious of what he’s eating

    Before his accident, Nick’s diet consisted of carbs. A lot of them.

    “It was OK for me to sit down and have Chinese, or three or four sandwiches for lunch,” Nick recalls. “I’d have toast, cereal and big breakfasts in the morning, four or five cappuccinos during the day, sweets. Everything was on the table.”

    Now, Nick’s more conscious of what he eats, and it’s having a huge impact on his diet –it’s helping him lose weight too.

    These days, you’ll find Nick having bircher muesli for breakfast, sashimi for lunch, and fish and vegetables for dinner. He snacks on nuts or a piece of fruit rather than sweets.

    Nick’s not too strict with himself though, and still allows himself rewards. “If I get to 100,000 steps or 1000 active minutes, I’ll reward myself with a few drinks on a Saturday night, or a piece of cake. You’ve just got to put in the work to get there.”

    3. Nick’s new habits are helping him sleep better

    “At 190 kilos, you don’t sleep well,” Nick remembers.

    Studies have shown that poor sleep quality affects our concentration and productivity, may make us moody, and can make it more difficult to lose weight.

    When Nick started exercising and eating better, he saw differences in his sleep almost immediately. “With the amount of exercise I’m doing now, I have no trouble sleeping,” he says. “When I wake up in the morning now, I’ve got a clear head, and I’m more productive at work because I’m not tired.”

    4. It’s strengthened his relationships

    Now that he’s eating well and moving more, Nick feels like he’s more present, and in a better spot to be a good dad. Since starting with AIA Vitality, he’s going on bike rides with his son, training with his daughters, and starting each morning with an 8km walk with his wife. The vouchers he receives through the app make a difference too.

    “The Vitality app motivates me to be competitive, and win those rewards,” he says. “Then I’m getting these $5 vouchers and I give them to my daughters. It’s a good system.”

    “It’s made a massive difference to my family,” he continues. “They’re really inspired by it all. It’s made our relationships a lot better.”

    5. Nick’s even keeping up with the younger generation!

    Nick’s path out of serious injury is impacting those around him too. He recalls a recent visit to his boxing gym, where the average demographic is young men in their twenties and thirties.

    “I got to the gym and this young bloke says to me ‘Just take it easy, mate, you’ll get through this,’ and at the end of my workout he turns around and says ‘I can’t believe how fit you are!’”

    Nick’s feeling back on track with life now. “You try to say to yourself that you’re healthy at 190 kilos, but you’re not,” he says. “You’re not enjoying life, you’ve got all these other health issues. But now, at 120 kilos, I’m feeling so much better.”


    Article by: AIA Vitality Staff Writer

    Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday New Zealanders live healthier lives. 

    Disclaimer: The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional, tax or other advice. It does not take into account any individual’s personal situation or needs. You should consider obtaining professional advice from a financial adviser and/or tax specialist, or medical or health practitioner, in relation to your own circumstances and before acting on this information.


    This content is brought to you by AIA Vitality

    AIA Vitality is a personalised, health and wellbeing programme that supports you every day to make healthier lifestyle choices. Visit aiavitality.co.nz

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